Ko Young-wook backs Shim Su-bong amid junior singer controversy, says he also has misophonia

Ko Young-wook, a former member of the group Rula, expressed sympathy for singer Shim Su-bong, who recently drew controversy after publicly criticizing her junior Kim Da-hyun. Ko also took aim at several other junior singers, including Hwasa, Seo In-young and Jessi.

Ko wrote on his personal social media account Monday that he fully understood Shim's feelings, regardless of whether her public remarks had been appropriate.

"I have known for some time that I also have misophonic tendencies," he said, adding that listening to the vocal styles of acts such as Buzz, SG Wannabe, SeeYa, T-ara and Davichi — and what he called excessive "cattle-driving" singing techniques — was "torture" for him.

Ko went on to criticize younger artists more broadly, saying the uniform sound and electronic effects of idol music made him angry. He added that the flood of cheap trot music that followed the genre's rise to mainstream popularity was unbearable, that Hwasa's songs made him nauseous, and that even the speech patterns and vocal tones of Jessi and Seo In-young gave him stress.

Misophonia is the condition Shim herself disclosed in June on MBN's "Kim Ju-ha's Day and Night."

At the time, Shim said she had become extremely sensitive to loud noises after friends startled her in middle school, describing the condition as a rare neurological disorder. She added that she had collapsed from it and always wore earplugs.

Meanwhile, Shim took the stage at the 10th Jinan Highland Trot Festival in Jinan-gun, North Jeolla Province on Sept. 20, and referred to Kim Da-hyun — who had performed just before her — as "the woman who sang before me." Shim said the young singer appeared to know nothing about music or life, and asked organizers not to put "that performer" on before her again.

As the remarks spread and the backlash grew, Shim issued a public apology, saying she had "no excuse" for making comments that crossed the line at a trot festival where everyone should have been laughing and having fun.

Kim Da-hyun subsequently said she had spoken directly with Shim by phone, and that Shim had personally apologized and offered warm words of encouragement. "I will pull myself together, so please do not worry. Thank you," Kim said.

Shim made her debut in 1978 at the College Song Festival, performing her own composition "That Person Back Then." She went on to cement her status as one of South Korea's most iconic singers with a string of hits including "Men Are Ships, Women Are Harbors," "I Know Nothing but Love" and "A Million Roses."